Howard County, Indiana: Power, Data Centers and the Local Economy
Home to Kokomo, Center Township and Harrison Township
Howard County is one of the places pushing back on the data center build-out. Construction employs 1,672, up 44.0% since 2019. Howard County is home to Kokomo, Center Township, Harrison Township and Taylor Township. The Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure here (1 in force); the latest is “Local moratorium on data centers through August 18, 2027”. Employers here counted 34,793 jobs in 2025, down 9.0% from 2019. Unemployment was 4.6% in August 2026, against 3.8% in 2019.
Cities and towns in Howard County
Howard County is home to Kokomo, Center Township, Harrison Township and Taylor Township.
Residents are 2025 Census estimates for the part of each city, town or township inside this county. Census publishes no annual estimate for unincorporated communities.
What changed in Howard County
1st = the most. Ranks cover counties with a value on record.
| Measure | Then | Now | Change | Rank in Indiana |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population (2020 → 2025) | 83,589 | 83,904 | ▲ 0.4% | 20th of 92 by size |
| Total jobs (2019 → 2025) | 38,242 | 34,793 | ▼ 9.0% | 86th of 92 by growth |
| Average annual pay (2019 → 2025) | $50,796 | $63,532 | ▲ 25.1% | — |
| Construction jobs (2019 → 2025) | 1,161 | 1,672 | ▲ 44.0% | 11th of 68 by growth |
| Unemployment rate (2019 → August 2026) | 3.8% | 4.6% | ▲ 0.8pts | — |
| Generating capacity added since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — | |
| Generating capacity retired since 2019 | — | 0 MW | — |
Its power plants have 5 MW of capacity, 100% of it solar. Duke Energy Indiana, LLC is the largest utility serving Howard County, one of 3 with territory here. Its residential customers paid an average 12.75¢/kWh in 2024, below the 14.63¢ median for Indiana utilities. 83,904 people live here, up 0.4% since 2020.
Who powers Howard County
Utilities with service territory in Howard County
| Utility | Ownership | Service | Residential customers (systemwide) | Residential price, 2024 | Commercial share of sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Duke Energy Indiana, LLC | Investor Owned | Bundled | 796,265 | 12.75¢ | 31% |
| Indiana Michigan Power Co | Investor Owned | Bundled | 422,062 | 16.31¢ | 28% |
| Carroll-White REMC | Cooperative | Bundled | 14,807 | 14.93¢ | 28% |
Customer counts, prices and sales shares cover each utility's whole system in the state, not only this county. Commercial sales include data centers.
Operating power plants 1
| Technology | Capacity | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Solar | 5 MW | 100% |
| Largest plants | Owner | Technology | MW | Since |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kokomo Solar 1, LLC | NJR Clean Energy Ventures Corporation | Solar | 5 MW | 2016 |
The Howard County labor market
| Industry (2025) | Jobs | Average pay | Concentration vs U.S. |
|---|---|---|---|
| All industries | 34,793 | $63,532 | 1.00 |
| Construction | 1,672 | $83,432 | 0.91 |
Concentration is the BLS location quotient: 1.0 means the industry holds the same share of local jobs as it does nationally. Industry rows count private employers; cells BLS suppresses are left out.
Data centers and local rules in Howard County
Local measures 1
| Measure | Status | Date | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local moratorium on data centers through August 18, 2027 | In force | 2026-08 |
Howard County and its neighbors
Of the 6 counties that border Howard County, Clinton County carries the most build-out activity: data centers, planned generation and operating plants combined.
| County | Population | Jobs since 2019 | Operating MW | Planned MW | Data centers | Local measures |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Howard County | 83,904 | ▼ 9.0% | 5 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Carroll County | 20,655 | ▲ 2.7% | 12 MW | — | — | — |
| Cass County | 37,836 | ▼ 2.6% | 219 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Clinton County | 33,322 | ▲ 4.3% | 195 MW | — | 1 | — |
| Grant County | 66,524 | ▲ 1.8% | 7 MW | — | — | 1 |
| Miami County | 34,487 | ▼ 0.7% | 17 MW | — | 1 | 1 |
| Tipton County | 15,319 | ▼ 15.4% | 208 MW | — | — | — |
More of Indiana
Howard County, answered from the record
Who provides electricity in Howard County, Indiana?
3 utilities have service territory in Howard County in the EIA-861 2024 report: Duke Energy Indiana, LLC, Indiana Michigan Power Co, Carroll-White REMC. The largest, Duke Energy Indiana, LLC, charged residential customers 12.75¢/kWh on average in 2024.
What county is Kokomo, IN in?
Kokomo is in Howard County, Indiana. About 59,999 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What county is Center Township, IN in?
Center Township is in Howard County, Indiana. About 46,120 people live there (2025 Census estimate).
What power plants are in Howard County?
1 operating plant with 5 MW of capacity. The largest is Kokomo Solar 1, LLC (5 MW, solar).
Are there data centers in Howard County?
The SAVRN Data Center Map has no data center in Howard County. The nearest activity on record is next door in Clinton County.
Is Howard County adding jobs?
Employers counted 34,793 jobs in 2025 against 38,242 in 2019 (-9.0%, BLS QCEW). Construction went from 1,161 to 1,672.
Does Howard County have a data center moratorium?
The SAVRN Moratorium Tracker holds 1 local measure for Howard County, 1 in force.